Steam-turbine.



' R. L. DEAN.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED nuns. 1914.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH CO.,WASHINGTON. n4 cv Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Z SHEETSSHEET 2 R. L. DEAN.

STEAM TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED DEC-8.1914.

COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH (10.. WASHINGTON, D. c

ROBERT L. DEAIL OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STEAM-TURBINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 30, 1915.

Application filed December 8, 1914. Serial No. 876,112.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ROBERT L. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in SteamTurbines, of which the following-is a specifica tion.

My invention relates to improvements in steam turbines or motors, and has for its object, the production of a power unit of the character mentioned which will be of improved construction, and eflicient in operation.

A further object is the production of a power unit of the character mentioned which maybe operated with the expenditure of very little fuel, and which may be readily and easily controlled so as to operate at any speed desired.

'Other objects will appear hereinafter.

With these objects in View, the invention consists in the combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which,

Figure 1 is a partially sectional side elevation of a power unit embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a section taken on substantially line od-oo of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 1 of Fig. 1, Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section taken on line z-c of Fig. 1, Fig. 5 is a perspective view of one of the buckets which are used in the construction, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the pairs of confining and directing blades employed in conjunction with each of the buckets.

The preferred form of construction, as illustrated in the drawings comprises a ho].- low base 1 the interior of which is divided by a partition 2 into independent compartments 8 and 4, the former serving as a condensing reservoir and the latter as a fuel reservoir.

Mounted upon the base 1 at one end thereof is a circular housing 5 open at its under side for registration formed inthe upper side of said base, whereby the interior of said housing is in open communication with the reservoir Rotatablv'mounted in .thehousing 5, is-a central shaft 7 upon which is-fiXed a wheel..8. Suit-w with an opening 6 able packing 9 is provided mounting of the ends of shaft 7 in the sides of housing 5 in order to prevent leakage. Secured at 10 upon the periphery of wheel 8 are spaced buckets 11 preferably of the Pelton type, each comprising two pockets 12, which are separated by a central knifeedged rib 13, said pockets in cross section being of substantially semi-circular curvature, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. The outer end walls of said pockets are cut away as at 12 to permit of the ready escape of the fluid or liquid therefrom during the operation of the turbine. Also mounted upon the wheel 8 adjacent the buckets 11, are pairs of deflector plates 15 which are secured at 14 to the periphery of said wheel. A pair of plates 15 cooperates with each of the buckets 11, being positioned just forward thereof, the rearward ends of said plates di verging toward the buckets, as clearly shown in Fig. 4. so that in the operation of the turbine, fluid issuing from an expanding discharge nozzle hereinafter described, to Ward the buckets 11 will be confined by said deflector plates. and directed toward the centers of'said buckets or toward the ribs 13 thereof. The employment of deflector plates 15 of this form and arrange ment prevents splashing or rebounding of the fluid as the same impinges upon the buckets, the course of the fluid through the employment of this form of bucket and the deflector plates cooperating therewith, being substantially in the direction inclicated by arrows in Fig. 4. vVere said buckets formed flat or in such a manner as to not divide and guide the fluid outwardly, as indicated by the arrows in Fig. 4, the fluid in striking the former, would splash or spread in all directions, it being clear that fluid which splashed backward or rebounded, would interfere with the stream of for wardly moving fluid. and thus reduce the efiic encv of the turbine.

The fluid which is directed toward the buckets 11 is introduced into the housing 5 through an expanding or diverging discharge nozzle 16 which is mounted in a fitting 17 arranged in one side of s id housing, adjacent the base thereof. The rearward end of nozzle 16 communicates with a chamber 18 formed in the fitting 17, in which terminates the forward end of an expanding or diverging delivery nozzle 19. Communicating -w ith the under side of at the points of chamber 18 is a pipe 20 which communicates at its lower end with the reservoir 3. Passage through pipe 20 is controlled by a suitable valve 20 having an exteriorly projecting stem which permits of manual adjustment of said valve. The rearward end of nozzle 19 communicates, by means of a pipe 21, with a steam generator 22 which is mounted in a housing 23 arranged upon the upper side of base 1. The opposite end of generator 22 communicates, by means of a pipe 24, with the reservoir 3.

In the operation of the device, the liquid contained in reservoir 3 is pumped therefrom through the pipe 24 to the upper end of generator coil 22 by means of a pump 25. The stem 27 of the plunger of pump is connected at its outer end by means of a link 28 with av crank disk 29 which is fixed to a shaft 30 mounted in suitable bearings 31 arranged upon the adjacent side of housing 5. Upon the shaft 30 is fixed a worm wheel 32 meshing with a worm 33 fixed to the shaft 7. The arrangement is such, as will be seen, that, during rotation of the wheel 8, pump 25 will be operated to effect pumping of the water from the reservoir 3 through pipe 24 to generator coil 22. Check valves 34 of conventional construction are interposed in the pipe 24 at opposite sides of pump 25 for cooperation therewith, as will be readily understood. Also mounted in the pipe 24 is a hand operable pump 26, the stem 35 of the plunger thereof being equipped at its outer end with a handle 36 for manual reciprocation. used only in the initial starting of the device in order to effect manual circulation of the water from the condensing reservoir to the generating coil, in the same manner as is automatically effected by the pump 25 during operation of the device. A suitable manually operable valve 21 is interposed in the pipe 21 to control admission from said pipe to the delivery nozzle 19. Heating of the generating coil 22 is effected by means of a burner 37 which is mounted upon the upper side of base 1 at the lower end of housing 23. A fuel pipe 38 communicates with the upper end of said burner discharging into a generating chamber 39 which is provided at said end of said burner. The generating chamber 39 communicates with the upper end of a downwardly projecting pipe 40 which communicates with discharge openings 41 formed at the upper sides of laterally projecting arms 42 radiating from the base of pipe 40. In the operation of this burner, the fuel which is introduced into the chamber 39 in a liquid state is heated in said chamber by the jets of flame which are supported at the openings 41. The gas which isthus generated from the liquid fuel passes downwardly through the pipe 40 to supply and support the ets of The pump 26 is flame at openings 41. Thus, it will be seen, that the burner is self-generating after the initial starting thereof. A sleeve 43 surrounds the upper end of said burner, serving as a means of confining the hot gases produced by the jets or flame produced by the burner in order to concentrate the heat around the generating chamber 39. The heated'gases, after leaving the upper end of burner 37 impinge upon the coils of generator 22 to serve to generate steam from the liquid which is introduced to said genrator through the pipe 24. V V

In the operation of the turbine, after lighting of the burner 37, the pump 26 is manually operated to effect the circulation of water from the condensing reservoir 3 to the upper end of generator coils 22. The water thus supplied to said generator is gradually heated as the same descends the generator coils, and so that by the time the lower end of said coil is reached, the generation of steam is complete. The steam thus generated is conducted through the delivery pipe 21 to the delivery nozzle 19. Said nozzle directs the steam toward the rearward end of nozzle 16 which in turn di' rects the same toward the buckets 11 upon wheel 8. In the passage of the steam from the forward end of nozzle 19 to the rearward end of nozzle 16, a portion of the chamber 18 is traversed which results in the formation of a partial vacuum in said chamber and consequently in the production of a suction in the pipe 20. The suction-thus induced in pipe 20 causes water from the reservoir 3 to be drawn up in said pipe and into the chamber 18. Ihe water thus introduced to chamber 18 is drawn into the stream of steam passing from the nozzle 19 to the nozzle 16 whence it is discharged for impingement against the buckets 11. Thus, it will be seen, that with this arrangement, the supply of liquid to the chamber 18 for mingling with the stream of steam issuing from the nozzle 19 is automatically effected. The liquid or solid matter which thus is mingled with the steam and aspirated thereby from thenozzle 16, lends body or mass to the latter and thus imparts kinetic ener y thereto with the result of causing rotation of said buckets'and hence of the wheel 8.

By forming the nozzles 16 and 19 of eX- panding or divergent construction, the fluid introduced to the smaller rearward ends of said nozzles is accelerated through expansion as .the same issues from the forward ends of said nozzles, the resulting increase in velocity effecting a corresponding increase in eiiiciency, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. The expanding formation of the nozzle 16 also naturally results in a spreading of the stream of fluid issuing therefrom, this stream being.

however, collected and concentrated through the inclined deflector plates 15, as before described. Upon striking the buckets 11 as mentioned, the steam will be condensed and the same together with the solid particles of water, projected into engagement with said buckets, will drop by gravity through the opening 6 into the reservoir 3. Upon rotation of the wheel 8, the pump 25 will be set in operation, after which the device will be automatic in its operation, manual opera tion of pump 26, after initial starting, being unnecessary. Connection for driving or work-performance may be made by connection with the shaft 7, by gears, pulley or otherwise.

lVith the construction'set forth, it will be seen, that the wheel, housing, condensing reservoir and generator are in open communication and hermetically sealed. This being so there is absolutely no loss of water through evaporation and escape into the outside atmosphere. Further, by reason of this sealed construction, a constant high pressure may be maintained so that the water which is delivered to the generator from the condensing reservoir, may be under a pressure of from fifty to one hundred pounds, and whereby the water may be pumped back into the generator at a temperature considerably above the boiling point. This of course will result in economy in fuel consumption since the boiler, after initial heating, may be maintained at a high temperature with but a comparatively low flame maintained at the burner 37. Also, with the construction set forth, the heat of the water in the condensing reservoir will be automatically regulated by radiation, so that a proper difference in temperature and pressure will be maintained in the reservoir and generator to insure satisfactory operation of the pump. The supply of water to the generator being controlled, when the device is in operation, by the pump 25, and said pump being operated through operation of the wheel 8, it is clear that the supply of liquid to the generator will be automatically controlled, the bucket wheel acting in the capacity of a governor in this respect, as will be understood. Through regulation of the valves 20 and 21, the supply of steam and water or solid matter for discharge through discharge nozzle 16 may be regulated and thus the speed of wheel 8 controlled.

lVhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form of construction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable of variation and modification without departing from. the spirit of the invention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desi e to avail myself of such variations and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what .I

claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: w

1. In a power unit, the combination of an expanding fluid discharge nozzle; a fluid delivery nozzle arranged rearwardly of and coaxial with said discharge nozzle, there being a chamber formed at the rearward end of said discharge nozzle in which the forward end of said delivery nozzle terminates;

a wheel having vanes thereon adapted for registratlon wlth said dlscharge nozzle; a housing for said wheel; a condenslng reservoir in communication with said housing; a steam generator; means for circulating from said reservoir to said generator; a communication between said generator and said delivery nozzle; and a communication between said reservoir and said chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a power unit, the combination of an expanding fluid discharge nozzle; a fluid delivery nozzle arranged rearwardly of and coaxial with said discharge nozzle, there being a chamber formed at the rearward end of said discharge nozzle in which the forward end of said delivery nozzle terminates; a wheel having vanes thereon adapted for registration with said discharge nozzle; a housing for said wheel; a condensing reservoir in communication with said housing; a steam generator; means for circulating from said reservoir to said generator; a communication betweensaid generator and said dc livery nozzle; a communication between said reservoir and said chamber; means for controlling the flow of fluid from said generator to said nozzle; and means for control ling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a power unit, the combination of an expanding fluid discharge nozzle; a fluid delivery nozzle arranged rearwardly of and coaxial with said discharge nozzle, there be ing a chamber formed at the rearward end of said discharge nozzle in which the forward end of said delivery nozzle terminates; a wheel having vanes thereon adapted for registration with said discharge nozzle; a

housing for said wheel; a condensing reservo1r in communication with said housing; a steam generator; means for circulating from said reservoir to said generator; a communication between said generator and said delivery nozzle; a communication between said reservoir and said chamber; a l

valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said generator to said nozzle; and a valve for controlling the flow of fluid from said reservoir to said chamber, substantially as described.

4. In a power unit, the combination of a fluid discharge nozzle: a fluid delivery nozzle arranged rearwardly of and coaxial with said discharge nozzle, there being a chamber formed at the rearward end of said dis charge nozzle; a wheel having vanes thereon adapted for registration with said discharge nozzle; a housing for said wheel; a condensing reservoir in communication with said housing; a steam generator; means for circulating from said reservoir to said generator; a communication between said generator and said delivery nozzle; and a communication between said reservoir and said chamber, substantially as described.

5. In a power unit, thecombination of an expanding fluid discharge nozzle; a wheel equipped with curved buckets adapted, upon rotation of said wheel, to be brought into successive registration with said nozzle, each of said buckets comprising two transversely curved pockets separated by a central rib; and means on said wheel for confining the fluid issuing from said nozzle and directing the same toward said rib substantially as described.

6. In a power unit, the combination of an expanding. fluid discharge nozzle; a wheel equipped with curved buckets adapted, upon rotation of said wheel, to be brought into successive registration with said nozzle, each of said buckets comprising two transversely curved pockets separated by a central rib; and a pair of deflector plates arranged adjacent each of said buckets, said plates converging toward the corresponding bucket so as. to confine the fluid issuing from said nozwheel, to'be brought into successive registration with said nozzle, each of said vanes comprising two portions separated by a central rib; and means 'on said wheel for con fining the fluid issuing from said nozzle and directing the same toward said rib, sub-' stantially as described.

8. In a power unit, the combination of a fluid discharge nozzle; a wheel equipped with vanes adapted, upon rotation of said wheel, to be brought into successive regis tration with said nozzle, each of said vanes comprising two portions, separated 'by a central rib; and a pair of deflector plates arranged adjacent each of said vanes, said plate-s converging toward the corresponding vane so as to confine the fluid issuing from said nozzle and direct the same toward said rib, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ROBERT L. DEAN.

Witnesses ARTHUR A. OLSON, JOSHUA R. H. Porrs.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent Washington, D. G." 

